Two major lottery prizes, each more than $100 million, could be won before Christmas.
The Mega Millions jackpot is estimated to be $173 million, and the Powerball jackpot is expected to be around $125 million.
The drawing is Friday night for the Mega Millions. Tickets must be purchased by 10 p.m.
The Powerball drawing will be Saturday night, and tickets must be bought by 9:59 p.m.
"Having two jackpots advertised at more than $100 million for both games is rare and unbelievably exciting," according to a statement by South Carolina Education Lottery executive director Paula Harper Bethea.
Bethea's statement encouraged players to enjoy the holidays and play responsibly.
Tickets for both games start at $1.
It could be one of the last chances to win a $100 million-plus Powerball jackpot before ticket prices increase in January. The game is set to have $2 minimum tickets, up from $1 minimum, beginning Jan. 15.
Along with the ticket price increase, the starting Powerball jackpot will increase to $40 million from $20 million.
There will be better overall odds and better odds of winning a jackpot, the best odds in Powerball's 20-year history, according to lottery officials.
The lottery commission expects more $100 million or larger jackpots to be available once the ticket prices rise.
Bethea expressed optimism that players will like the new odds but did not make any sales predictions in statements released by the lottery commission.
PowerPlay, a $1 option that allows players to earn high prizes, will remain at $1 even after the base ticket price rises.
Bethea said the price increase will serve to distinguish Powerball from Mega Millions.
Mega Millions will remain a $1 game.
"Our players will now have a choice to make," Bethea said through the statement. "Whatever they decide, education is, and always will be, the real winner."
Since the state lottery began in 2002, more than a million college scholarships and grants have been awarded to students. More than $2.6 billion has been given to educational programs in South Carolina.
Odds for the Mega Millions game are 1 in 40 for winning any prize and 1 in 175.7 million for the jackpot. The odds for Powerball are 1 in 35 for any prize and 1 in 195.3 million for the top prize.
Lottery offices in Columbia will be closed for several days in the next week, but sales at stores and lottery drawings will go on as normal. The Columbia offices will be closed Friday, Monday, Tuesday and Jan. 2 for the holidays.
Lottery tickets can be checked by going online or by checking with a lottery retailer. Prizes worth more than $100,000 must be redeemed in person by visiting a claims office. The central claims office can be reached at (803) 253-4004.
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